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Speaking about the dinner at Sonia Gandhi’s residence, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said there is “no question of a prime ministerial candidate at this stage, but the dinner is definitely a step forward towards opposition unity”.

Dinner Comes to an End, Congress Dubs it a 'Non-Political' Event

The dinner hosted by Sonia Gandhi at her residence has come to an end, with the Congress dubbing it a “non-political” event.

Photos of Sonia Gandhi's Dinner With Leaders of Opposition Parties

Manmohan Singh and Kanimozhi along with others at Sonia Gandhi’s residence.

Sonia Gandhi in conversation at her 10 Janpath residence.

Rahul Gandhi in conversation at Sonia Gandhi’s residence.

Rahul Gandhi and Kanimozhi.

'Dinner Should Not be Seen From the Prism of Politics': Surjewala

Talking to the media during the dinner at Sonia Gandhi’s residence, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said:

This dinner hosted by Sonia Gandhi for opposition parties should not be seen from the prism of politics. It was for friendship and better dialogue between parties.

Randeep Surjewala

However, he did go on to add that it would be natural for the opposition leaders, “who are concerned about the nation’s problems”, to have a discussion on national and state-level politics when they meet.

Sources were quoted as saying that while the BSP has been invited, its leader Mayawati may not send a representative as her party has aligned with JD(S) for the Karnataka polls later this year.

Leaders of 17 Oppn Parties Invited

Sonia Gandhi has called for Opposition unity and said parties should set aside their minor differences to get together in the larger interest of keeping the BJP out of power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“It will not be merely a dinner, but it will also demonstrate the power of the Opposition parties, who may like to form a morcha united against BJP's misrule,” PTI quoted a Congress source as saying.

As per the report, the BJD and the TRS have not been invited. Leaders of Andhra Pradesh's ruling Telugu Desam Party, which recently pulled out its ministers in the Modi government but continues to be a constituent of the NDA, have not been invited either.